Hydraulic apparatus, including a drive motor and automatic control means for the motor



Jan. 20, 1953 E. M. MAY 2,625,912

HYDRAULIC APPARATUS, INCLUDING A DRIVE MOTOR AND AUTOMATIC CONTROL MEANS FOR .THE MOTOR In q v IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEYS Jan. 20, 1953 E M MAY 2,625,912

HYDRAULIC APPARATUS., NCLUDING A DRIVE MOTOR AND AUTOMATIC CONTROL MEANS FOR THE MOTOR Original Filed Deo. 30, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. @Afa/w( 77a 7/7 By 'i7 AT T ORNE YS Jan. 20, 1953 E. M. MAY 2,625,912

HYDRAULIC APPARATUS, INCLUDING A DRIVE MOTOR AND AUTOMATIC CONTROL MEANS FOR THE MOTOR Original Filed Dec. 30, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR.

BYGQCW 7%. W0?

ATTORNEYS Jan. 20, 1953 E. M; MAY 2,625,912

l HYDRAULIC APPARATUS, INCLUDING A DRIVE MOTOR ANO AUTOMATIC CONTROL MEANS FOR THE MOTOR Original Filed Dec. 50, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 CROS `SLIDE.'

M ao o eo 5p 40 COLLET {l09 o 6o 5p "'40 ao o 7o 6o 5@ 4o PRESSURE l l ao o 7o 6o 5g 4o .SPEED /Of l aa o 6o 5g 4o I N VEN TOR.

ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 20, 1953 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE HYDRAULIC APPARATUS, INCLUDING A DRIVE MOTOR AND AUTOMATIC CON- TROL MEANS FOR THE MOTOR Original application December 30, 1946, Serial No.

Divided-and this application October 3, 1951, Serial No. 249,481

3 Claims. l

The invention relates to hydraulic apparatus comprising a hydraulic motor and automatic means for controlling the operation of the motor. The present application is a division of my earlier application Seria1 No. 719,305, led December 30, 1946.

The present invention has for a principal object the provision of hydraulic motor and motor control apparatus in which the control means is capable of Varying the pressure of the working fluid supplied to the motor in accordance with variations in the load which the motor is required to carry.

lA further .object of the invention is to provide apparatus comprising a hydraulic motor and control means therefor in which the control means serves both to vary the pressure of the working fluid of the motor and to vary its own speed and thereby vary the speed of movement of the motor.

Other objects of the invention more or less incidental or ancillary to those stated will be apparent from the following description of an exemplary embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings.

For the attainment of the stated objects the invention consists in certain forms, arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter explained and denitely pointed out in appended claims.

In the drawings, Y

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of unitary mechanism comprising main parts of the motor control means of the apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a right side elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 with a portion of the casing structure broken away to show interior parts and with hinged cover portions of the casing structure shown in closed position by full lines and in open position by dashed lines.

Fig. '3 is a view partially diagrammatic showing a hydraulic motor, a machine element connected to be driven by the motor, power driven pump means for supplying power liquid for the hydraulic motor and the principal parts of the control means for the hydraulic motor, the unitary part of the control means being shown in plan on an enlarged scale with some parts yof the mechanism omitted and other parts shown in section to disclose interior construction.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view on the broken line 4-4 of Fig. 3 with some parts of the structure broken away.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a plan View, more or less diagrammatic,

showing the invention as applied to the actuation of a turret lathe.

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic View indicating the hydraulic transmitters of the control apparatus and a series of actuating cams in developed form such as would be appropriate in the use of the invention for the control of the turret lathe.

Fig. 8 is a face view of a cam blank useful in the design and fabrication of cams such as are shown in Fig. 7

Referring now in detail to the structures illustrated in the drawings, numeral I designates as an entirety (Figs. l and 2) a cabinet designed to restrupon the iloor and house a hydraulic transmitter apparatus in accordance with the invention. The cabinet is preferably built up of sheet steel and is fitted with a pair of bottom skids 2, 2 adapted to slide upon the floor when the apparatus is moved. The front of the cabinet may be left open as shown but the top is partially closed by cover sections 3 and 4 which are hinged on the body of the cabinet at 3a and 4a, respectively, so that they can be swung downward to the positions shown in dotted lines to give free access to the apparatus within the cabinet and at the same time serve as shelves for tools and parts when changes and adjustments of the apparatus are being made. The rear cover 4 is disposed at a higher level than the front cover 3 so that an inspection opening or window is provided lat 5 for a purpose which will presently appear.

being to illuminate parts of the enclosed apparatus as viewed through opening 5.

. Within the upper part of the cabinet I is a rectangular frame 8 secured to the walls of the cabinet by bolts or screws (not shown) the said frame being inclined downwardly from the rear to the front of the cabinet as shown in Fig. 2. As best shown in Fig. 3, the rear side of frame 8 carries a series of hydraulic transmitters 9, 9 two of which have been omitted to facilitate disclosure of other parts. Each transmitter comprises a block I0 formed at its front yend with a transverse cylinder chamber Il (Fig. 4). This chamber is closed at its respective ends by heads I2 and I3. Within chamber II is a piston structure I4 comprising a disc I5, hydraulic packing I6 and retaining ring Il. The piston is fast on a rod I8 which is guided at one end in a boss carried by the head I2 and at its other end eX.-

. tends through anaperture in the head I3 tted with a suitable hydraulic packing I9. 'I'he cylinder block I is formed on its top side with a threaded aperture 2B to which is connected a conduit 2| designed .to connect chamber -II with re.

ceiver apparatus which will later be described.

The cylinder block le of each transmitter is also formed with a top recess to receive an upf,...

right, open-topped tubular reservoir 22 of transparent material such as plastic iornglass.: Ther.

reservoir is designed to hold oil or other-vvorkingjy liquid for the transmitter and has its joint with block I9 packed to prevent-leakage.

Passages f;

23 and 2li lead from the bottomzoffthereservoir 22 into the cylinder chamber II, the passage 211y communicating with chamber II adjacent the closure head I3 while passage 23;communicateskg with chamber i l at a point intermediatepassage 24 and passage 22. With this arrangement the packing I5 of the piston structure serves to close the passage 23 as the piston moves forward on its fworking stroke.` Acoil spring; 2 5 is interposed between the piston I4 and the'head `I2 .andV

is adapted toretract; the f piston. following its Workin g- Y stroke.

To eiectthe. working strokeiof the piston -Y I4. cam devices rare providedfcomprisinga horizontal cylinder 25 havinga cylindricaly shell 2-1 .and.end;.

discs,2!.5,2whichv are centrally apertured .and

secured by. set screws or-the like on asupporting.

shaft 28. Shaft 29 in turn is supportedv by antifrictionsbearings.. 3e .in therespective. ends vci frameg.

swinging, bolts 32.

Thecylinder 25.is formed peripherally toreceive a series` of circurnf-zrentiallyY extendingV cams 33; 33y one for each of the transmitters 9,- 9.'.

That -is .to-say', the cylinder has a seresof cil:-4 cumierential-lyextending cam seatsllaY eXtend-.

ing radially somewhat beyond the mainsurface ofY the-shell- 21, and .adjacent each seat. surface 2 'la ...the .shell is formed with. a. circumferentially.

extending shoulder 2lb .toengageand locate one ofthe cams, `each ofwhich has a straight. longitudinal edge affording a reference-surface to. Eachv cam 33..is,preferablyV formed from an elongatedrelatively .thm strip-of metal .or othenmaterial,

cooperate with the-locating. shoulder 21h.v

susceptibleof being manually bent from the dat stateto circular formand preferably also possessing sufiicient elasticity to return substantially tothe flat statewhen released.. Aluminumalloy.

sheetmaterial. of suitable temper is a-satisr,

factory material for. the. purpose.

Eachof the cams 331s vprovided. adjacent its two ends. with apertures .to receive securing screws 3A, .32 `whichengage threaded holes 27e,` 22o of the `cylinder drumZ'i; and is also 'provided' adjacent one end with adowel hole to engage a dowelpin SeattaehedY to drum shell 2T.'`

the cam drum. As will be apparent from Fig. 3, each-ofthe-cams 35V' has oneflongitudinal edge formed with Vvariouslobesor'active camsections'.

toeffect' desired movementsV of itsl hydraulic transmitter vthrough the cam followersprovided for that purpose. Such" follower is in thefiorm of a` lever'arm 3d: fittedsatits .freeendwith a rollers? .toengage thecam vand pivotally supported; atits otherend in position toengage the projecting :end of the pistonrod. It.y The; pivotal support forthe armzSiSjais afforded; by pinnare:

Each' cammay if desired `be provided with additionalr securingv screws spaced aroundtheperiphery -of ried by the head of a bolt 39 having a swiveling support in the rear part of receiver block ID. With this construction the follower arm 36 can be raised. when desired..as. ,indicated..bycdotted lines in.,Fig. 2 to.perm it removalcofthe cam cylinder 26 from frame 8. The swiveling bolt 3S is fitted with a washer 39a and a coil spring 4i) which engages the bolt washer and yieldingly presses the-head .of the bolt against the adjacent faceof block IFig. 3). To support the roller 3'.- inoperative engagement with the edge of the cam,.33.the;side-.ofiollower arm 36 where it engages thepistonrodl 8 is formed with an angular groove ,or-f depression 32a as shown in Fig. 4. rIfhe engagement between the arm and the end ofjthe-rodzisnormally maintained by the tension oithespring 25.'. As is shown in Fig. 4 the follower arm 35 during normal operation lies withina slotfla of the cylinder head I3.

For reasons later explained it is desirable to be .-able. to adjust, the,..transrnitter. 'blocks`A I il in relation ,to the.` supporting framef 8 and. to this..

endeachblock is secured. to the frame by a .pivot piu :i I.. (Fig. Al... and -a ...clamping screw 42 -which passesv through'v aV holeiin the. block. .I l! somewhat.. larger than the shank of the screw so that thefblock: caribe. adiusted .around .the .axis of .pin .4I

Rotationbf, they cam ...drum is eiifectedbyv an. electric motor. i3 which .is connected. .to drive. a variable.. speed .mechanisnr 4d .which in` turn is connected through.. worm and wheel .-,gears. to

drive.. a .pinion meshing.v with.4 aY spur gear 45].. fast on shaft 2e of the cam drum. lreierably..

the;. mo tor; variablegspeed, .mechanism ,andi/vorm" f. and.. wheel. gears.. constitute` a.. unitary.. device.. which.. is supported. on, theendof cabinet. I by.- a suitable .bracket .48.... With the. described.. gear.

connectionbetweenthe .motor and .the cam .drum the removal .of .the latter.. from..its-.supporting fframe involves merely the disengagement. of the,

bearing caps-.3|.andseparation of. spur gear 41 fromthe ..driving.. pinion., @ik For. control. of!v motor. 43.. it. .isconnected -in. circuit` with switch, andrelaydevices- IIS-and 49K, respectively, vof well. known construction, the switchhaving. a `starting buttonaand astop buttonliilb.v Further. reference.. wil1 .be made-to` these manual.. control devices later 4in the.. description.

The fapparatusis further `provided with safety., devices comprising an emergency switch 5D which.

is connected in circuit with motorY 43.H Switch snormally held -in :its .closed position by means of -fadouble-ended; doga` 5 I. xedly'- secured tof-a rod 52 which is slidably mounted;ini-bracketv 53 andd'attachedtotheframe vr8 v(Fig.y 3); Dogs pivot-bolts 139i' urges rod 52 toward the left.'` Rotation offthe rod 521is prevented by the disposition of the arms ofi'dogf! ladjacent the horizontal surface of thebracketf. With this .arrangement if the discharge of; any one of the transmitters shouldk n be-.blockaded .or movement Aof the .cam 'follower' benin.` izany; way; obstructed; -theispring 4t. of the pivot bolt; will-yield '.a'ndxlermit theffollower arm;n ito'-swing'gaboutetheend of'V piston rodl I8-fas a pivotwith resultantY movement of thesliding rod 52 toward theright-andv the` opening'of emergency `switch 5t;

With theV hydraulic transmitters actuatedHV by4 the circular or endless formY of cams itis apparent--that. a. cycle offtransmitter movements v. sieffectedorieach rotation ofthe .cam drumZ.

For the control of some types of machines and operations itv may be desirable for the control mechanism, when started manually by switch button 49a, to run continuously for the performance of a considerable number of control cycles and then be stopped by manual switch button 49o. In other cases, however, it may be desirable to stop the control mechanism at the end of each cycle and have the apparatus started again manually. To this latter end means are provided to open emergency switch 5D at the end of each rotation of the drum 26. Said means comprise a lever arm 51 tted at its front end with an antifriction roller 58 arranged to be engaged by a radial pin 59 carried by cylinder 26. At its rear end the arm 51 is slotted to receive the end of eye bolt 60 to which the arm is pivotally connected by pin 6|. Bolt 6U has a swiveling support in block 62 carried by frame 8 and is fitted at one end with a washer 63 which is engaged by spring 64 to hold the arm 51 yieldingly against the side surface of block 62. The rear end of arm 51 is engaged by the front end of dog 5| on the sliding rod 52 and normally serves as a positive stop limiting movement of rod 52 by spring 56. With this construction when the control apparatus is started by actuation of the starting switch 49a the cam drum 25 rotates, in the direction of arrow R, until pin 59 engages roller 58 to swing the arm 51 around the right front corner of block 62 as a pivot with resultant movement of the rear end of arm 51 to the right. This movement carries dog-5| to the right and opens emergency switch 5|] to stop the drive motor 43.

In order to insure the proper positioning of roller 58 in relation to the pin or dog 59, block 62 is adjustably secured to frame 8 by means of pin 65 and clamping screw 65, the clamping screw having a sufliciently loose t in the block to permit the relatively small range of needed adjustment. When multiple cycle operation without manual control is desired it is only necessary to block up arm 51 to remove roller 58 from the path of dog 59, such positioningr of arm 51 being permitted by the swivel mounting of bolt 69.

An additional motor control switch 61 is mounted on bracket 53 with its actuating arm disposed adjacent the rear end of arm 51. The switch which is normally open, is closed by the above described swinging movement of arm 51. The purpose of switch 61 will appear at a later point in the description. f

It is desirable that the stopping of the cam mechanism be effected without any considerable overrun when the control switch is actuated. To this end the motor 43 is preferably equipped with a magnetic brake so that it will stop promptly when deenergized. Alternatively (and at less cost) use may be made of well known switch and relay circuit means adapted to give the desired quick stopping.

The invention contemplates automatic control of the variable speed mechanism 44 through which motor 43 is connected to drive the cam drum 26. To this end gearing 44 is provided with a crank arm 44a connected to actuate the speed varying means of the mechanism. As has been stated any suitable form of speed varying mechanism can be employed but that manufactured by Graham Transmissions Inc., of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and shown in U. S. Patent No. 2,405,957, has been found satisfactory for use. Crank arm 44a is actuated by a hydraulic receiver comprising cylinder 68 and piston 69 having a rod with a pin and slot connection to arm 44a. One end of cylinder 68 is connected 6. by a conduit 2| with one of the hydraulic transmitters 9. Thus the hydraulic impulse of the transmitter serves to move the piston 69 against the tension of a retracting spring 1| interposed between the piston and one end of cylinder 68. The speed change mechanism and the connections between it and arm 44a are such that the piston movement opposed to spring 1| increases the speed transmitted through pinion 4B and gear 41 to the cam drum. Movement of piston 69 in the reverse direction by spring 1| correspondingly reduces the speed transmitted to the cam cylinder. To determine the maximum and minimum speeds which may be thus automatically provided by the hydraulic mechanism adjustable screws 12, 12 are mounted on bracket 13 carried by the casing of mechanism 44 and serve to limit the swinging movement of lever 44a.

By means of the described hydraulic devices for determining the speed of rotation of the cam drum 26 it is possible by the provision of a suitably shaped cam for actuating the transmitter connected to cylinder 68 to vary the speed of cam movement at will throughout the cycle of rotation of the cam drum.

In Fig. 3 of the drawings is shown more or less diagrammatically a machine element, hydraulic motor devices and pressure fluid supply means for the motor devices connected in a typical manner to the hydraulic transmitter control mechanism already described. The machine element 14 may be taken as a portion of the turret slide of the turret lathe shown in Fig. 6. Associated with the slide is a hydraulic motor comprising a cylinder 15 anchored at 16 and having a piston 11 with rod 18 connected by arm 19 to the slide element 14. This hydraulic motor is fitted with a hydraulically actuated control valve of the follow type. The valve comprises a casing providing a chamber 80a for a spool valve 3| and a chamber Bllb for an actuating piston 82 having its rod 83 extending into chamber 86a to urge the valve 8| toward the right against the tension of spring 84. The chamber 88h is connected on the left side of piston B2 with one of the conduits 2| leading to one of the hydraulic transmitters 9. Piston rod 18 of the main motor carries an arm 85 to which is attached a follow rod 86 extending into chamber 88h. The latter chamber, on the right side of piston 82, is open to the atmosphere through vent 81 so that no working fluid for the main motor can leak past the packing of vrod 83 and affect the control piston.

A pump 88 of constant delivery type is directly driven by motor 89 mounted upon the top of a sump chamber 90. The pump has its intake connected by a suction pipe 9| with the interior of sump 90 and has a discharge pipe 92 with various branches to supply a plurality of hydraulic motors. One such branch 92a is shown connected to the inlet port of valve casing 80. The right end of the control valve chamber 88a discharges to a return pipe 93 delivering into sump 90. Pipe 93 may also have branch return lines leading into it as indicated in Fig. 3.

To control the pressure of` the working fluid delivered to the hydraulic motor or motors served by it discharge pipe 92 is fitted with a by-pass valve 94 of well known construction. As already stated, an object of the present invention is to provide means for automatically varying the pressure of the working liquid supplied to the controlled motor or motors and to this end valve 94 equipped with relief valve devices comprising mammar- 75 casing .1f-9 jlfball; valve. 9 iand coil. spring r 9'lrfwlr1iclrI yieldingly urges. the :valvel against the inletf'port: of. casing 95'; the outlet `portfbeingi'connecteda'fbyr conduit 982i to sump' 99.1 To automatically :vary the tensionoffspring 9'I'casing 95-isprovided with'` a chamberl 99 4for hydraulic :piston I |10 Ihewingfa-l rod llengaging. the end' ofr'spring 912". With.. chamber .99 connected as shown.thr.ough acone-xv duit2ll with one of -the .hydraulictransmittersi 9` the impulse of the transmitter, determinedy by its-actuating cam, serves'to vary'th'etension .of spring 9T'and hence the' pressure at which the. valve Siopens to `control'the opening of by-passvalve 941 Casing structure 95`is providedxwitlil a relief Yfport I92onithe right side of piston M9515. length of the caminto 100i equal subdivisions' From what has beensaid-itis apparentthatc the control apparatusy is 'adapted automatically`1 to control the amounts or distancesoff. the power?4 driven movements of one or morefmachine eleliquid supplied to the motor or-motorsr of; vthe machine elements duringi'orin diffrentparts" ofthemovements of the saidelementsgto thereby-j varythe force ofthe individual.movementsytof:

feedlgof wor-k; piece); turretf' -pressure and. speed-f correspondingtoithefseveral vcontrol sta- 5 Y tions-:Which havev already: beerr ref erred to Ain ithe:

ismarked' 'with a-longitudinally extending .baise line -109- which iswspaced exactly ata standard distance-fromthe reference edgeofth'e camxand:

=the-surface of thecam atfone: side ofrthisgline7 is marked with transverse-lines l I0 dividing-the (Fig. 8) ,f every tenth: subdivision being numbered` from the-starting end` of "thecam upward.p The;

cams move indirection of arrow R."

From aninspection` of=Fig. V'7 itpwill be'seenthatments,- to control thefpressure of". theworking-20V eachfoff-the cams'hasits active edge'on-or abovevr Itherbase lineY |99 exceptthat 'at vone point, inthe z caseof--each'cama notchl l2 is formed-to'permitthe camioilower Ytofmove belowrthebase'linen l'Ihepurpose'of thenotches H2 will be explained? control the sequence in which-the movements-2ipresentlyinitracing thefoperationofthe-appaofthe'machine elementsoccur: and also tocontrol thespeed with which the`v cycleorcyclesroft machine element Vmovementsy or partsof 'such' cycles; are carried out.'

To' further' illustrate: the'manner :of applying" 30 such'as'are shown in Fig. 7 and the vapparatus is the control apparatus'rtopower driven-*machines* Fig.` Gishows' in plan `view'th'e` applicationV -ofthe'i invention toa turret'lathe;y the-'already described 'cabinet' I with its-variable.

The gure shows ratusf Operation Assuming that the Y.control apparatus which. has been described is providedwith a set of cams to beconnectedas shownin Fig. 6 for the con.A trol of the turret lathe, inan initial use oijthe apparatusit would be,appropriate to/,flll with* workingdiquid the transmitter, and receiver speed motor Vdrive'mechanism and its'serieso35 Chambers and the.. condutszl connectngwthem.

hydraulic transmitter f conduits 2 lf," 2 l? and also" shows the already"describedAmotorpump` mechanisml forV supplying liquid "underpressure to" hydraulic motors to beY automaticallyfcontrolledf:

together withl the turret lathe'designated'as van 40 3.),

entirety -bythe numeral 193.' I The' lathehas' a carrying turret mechanism' |05* is` slidablyt mounted:v Slidestructure 14 is tted :withtthe' motor and valve mechanism 15, '80"already de- 45 vwith the transmtterpistons in their right hand,

scribed in connection withF'igfB; A collethuck'l mechanism IDS/-forgripping and advan'cingithe7 work toI the tools is similarly'tted with motor# and control valve means 75"; 80 anda'cross slide# ToA facilitate the introduction of theworking Huid the receiver part of Ythe control valve casings 80 may beprovidedwithair vent apertures normally;

closedl by, screw plugs such as shown at 80e (Fig.

working 1iquidwhichwill preferably lbe colored red or rsome other striking color that will readily catch thereye, may be introduced into the open toppedV reservoirs 22 of the. several receivers.

positions and with the closure 'plugs 89o open to permit escape of air', the liquid will flow from the reservoirs through passage 23-into the transmitter chambers and thence throughv conduits 2| mechanism mr iS-smlar 1y 'fitted Wthmotorandl tothe several receiver'chambers,v whereupon plugs control-valve devices 'i5`^,80". Thfeturret, collet` and cross slide "devices are ttedwith' the usual limit' 'stops (not shown) to positively'f'limit" theirrespective feed and retraction movements.v Thetransmitter 'conduits 2 l fof' `the'icontrol apparatus areshown connected'to the-speed`control1-and pressure control devices 44`an-d 95-andto eachY of the' hydraulic motor devicesyalthouglrthe conduits'to serve the motorsofthe collet and-crossslidemechanism'arepartly broke-n away to avoid undue complications.

It will be'` observed that the I cabinet-encasedl director is-conveniently disposed in'rfront of the'- lathe butY spaced lrfromeit to provide passageway the conduits 2 l "and receiver chambers.

ciently to permit the trapped air to be vented toI the .atmosphere` Wth1the control Asystem suitably Afilled Vwith working,v fluid the ,next-*step in initiating operation of the apparatus is adjustment of the blocks betweenthe Atwo-:devices and fsecurefree aCCeSS- A. I0 ofthe transmittersV 9 to insure thegproper poisitioning ofthe transmitter pistons ld in relation .to the-passagegrZS when the cam follower;

roller is tangent, to .the base line of the cams.

Such adjustmentcanconviently bemade before cams.. are attachedv tothe supporting cylinderZQ byclamping on the cylinder inplace of the. carn a short.gauge havingawidth .equal tothe-dise tance between the, baseline of afcarmandthe. right edge thereof, v.as xziewed in Fig. 3...suchgauge y theiri-lat formdetachedfromthesupporting camA 75fbeing,moved. from one.cam seat to snol-.heres Having removed, or loosened plugsGc theV Vthe blocks I are successively adjusted. In effecting the adjustment the anti-friction roller of arm 36 is held against the edge of the gauge, and with the clamping screw 42 loosened, block l0 is turned in the clockwise direction on pivot pin 4| to permit spring 25 to move the piston to the right of passage 23. The block l0 is then slowly turned in the opposite direction to eiect movement of piston I4 toward the left (Fig. 4). During this movement the level of the liquid in reservoir 22 remains xed until the front edge of piston packing I6 completely closes passage 23, at which point the level of the liquid starts to fall incident to flow through passage 24 into the space to the right of the piston. The start of the change in the liquid level thus indicates the point at which the clamping screw 42 is to be tightened to x the block I0 in its proper working position. In this connection it will be apparent that the supporting bearings of the cam cylinder must be such as to avoid endwise movement of the cylinder.

With the adjustment effected in the manner stated the cam cylinder may be lifted from its bearing supports for the mounting thereon of cams suitable for the particular motor-driven machine or operation to be controlled. For the control of the turret lathe (Fig. 6) it may be assumed that the set of cams shown in Fig. 7 is employed. If the machine is to be stopped automatically at the end of each cycle the control arm 51 will be lowered into operative position to be engaged by dog 59 of the cam cylinder. The operator or attendant starts the operation by pressing button 49a of switch 49. The cam cylinder thereupon is rotated in the direction of arrow R (Fig. 3) to carry out the cycle of operations determined by the forms of the ve cams.

As illustrative both of the kinds of considerations involved in the design of the cams and of the advantages attained with the present invention some of the characteristics of the cams of Fig. 7 are here noted. In the case of the turret cam there is a level-topped lobe between G and 10. This results in turret station l (Fig. 6) being held toward the left with the turret stop rod presented to the bar stock coming through the spindle. Correspondingly the collet cam has a rise and fall between 0 and l0, which causes the collet mechanism first to open and retract and then advance the bar stock through the spindle and close. This requires heavy hydraulic pressure for cylinder 15 which is provided for by making the pressure cam with a Vhigh lobe between 0 and 10 so that the pump 88 will provide its maximum pressure. It is desirable to operate the collet rapidly but the cam slope that can be used is limited to about 45 to prevent undue tangential stress. Consequently it is desirable to turn the cam drum rapidly and the speed cam is made high to provide the high speed. Meanwhile the cross slide cam is level at only half the maximum height to hold the cross slide in central or inoperative position.

At point 10 the turret cam ldrops (rapidly at rst but more slowly at the end where the cam kslope is curved) to retract the turret and index it to its number 2 position whereupon it is again returned to the work. As will be noted, the form of the cam for this return motion is first fast and then slower at feed rate as the drill engages the work, the flatter cam slope at 20 being for the feed motion. This operation takes some time and if the drum should continue to turn at .high speed an undue portion of the drum cir- 10 cumference would be exhausted. Accordingly the speed is made low beginning at about 17.

Next there follows a fall and rise of the turret cam between 24 and 30 which indexes the turret to its number 3 position. Such indexing calls for a long rapid stroke so a corresponding rise between 24 and 30 is provided on the speed cam. Similarly turret tools 3 and 4 are fed through to 50 on the turret cam and then follows two indexes for the empty turret stations 5 and 6 to point 73 on the cam. Just as the last turret tool is retreating at 48 (turret cam), the cross slide advances to present the front forming tool. This is a long feed movement but there is plenty of cam length available to finish the operation so the moderate rotational speed is maintained as shown by the level section of the speed cam from 44 to 85. After the front forming cut is finished by the cross slide, its cam reverses at '74 and, between 75 and 85, presents the rear cutoff tool to cut off the work piece.

At some point in each rotation of the cam drum it is desirable to efl'ect refilling of the hydraulic pilot systems and in the case of the turret lathe application it is convenient to provide each cam with a ller notch I|2 between points 85 and 9() on the several cams. These notches fall below the base line |09 of the cams and, as will be recalled, this permits the front edge of packing I6 of piston I4V (Fig. 4) to pass to the right of Ipassage 23 thus opening chamber li to reservoir 22. This allows replenishment to compensate for any slight leakage and to permit escape of air upward through the reservoir. The appearance ofl air bubbles rising in the reservoir will warn of a leak somewhere in the pilot system and the operator can promptly locate the leak and remove it.

Thus the pilot systems are normalized once in each cycle. In the present example this action occurs at the same time in all of the pilot systems but the filler notches of the cams can be located at any point that does not interfere with an active operation.

Between points 90 and 100 all the cams return to Ytheir original heights to match the zero ends thereof.

The cams are seen to be simple right angle coordinate graphs of the operations to be performed and can be laid out by any intelligent mechanic having a knowledge of the machine Operations to be controlled. Furthermore the cams are light in weight and when dismounted from the drums take substantially their original fiat form which facilitates their compact storage for use at a future date. They form and preserve a record of timing and feed rates that in other types of apparatus would have to be worked out anew with each repeated setup.

Design considerations In the practice of the invention certain design considerations should be borne in mind. Thus the springs 4B (Fig. 3) associated with the pivot bolts 39 should be of a length to permit suiicient movement of the bolts to accommodate the full :throw of the actuating cams so that if for any reason the safety switch 5i! should fail to operate no harm will be done. The springs 4@ should be stronger than the retraction springs 25 of the transmitters and spring 84 in the follow valve so as not to yield under maximum normal pressure in the pilot system. The spring 56. associated with safety rod 52 should, of course,

be. strong enough .to overcome Vrfrictionaiof4 1 the Yrod.52 .in its supports and close switchf50.

Spring 25 of the transmitters neednot^"be a Yheavy;one but is neededto retractpiston I4 lin case leakage from the system-.resultstin .insuffi- -cient workingfluid .for spring 84 of fthe follow 'turnv stroke.

The hydraulicV pilot system comprising .transmitter'chamber vIl, .conduit .2| and receiver chamber b constitutes .theoretically a rigid means of transmitting motion from cam=.33..to piston82 of the receiver. .Practically this ideal is not realized. Cam follower arm..36 will flex slightly under load, .the various .hydraulicVv packings are resilient .and;slightly compressibleand there is usually a slight amount. of compressible air in the working. lluid. .Thereforeioruniformity of actiondt is. important :to keep.- the load on the pilot system as..nearly.constant..as possible. As this loadisulargely. determi-nedby spring B4 of the control v,valve.thisspringshouid bemade suilicientlyexible so that itUdoes not change :pressure much inthe stroke of valve 8|.

When theicontrolled hydraulic motoris moving at constant speed (dueto straight .line slope of the control cam) thenoted inaccuraciesof the hydraulic .pilot system have-no eiiectY-because the'follow valve is then stationary. `'However, the timing of the starting. andstopping of the controlled motor and its changes '.in. speed are affected by the inaccuracies and, accordingly,

the system is particularly useful orthe control of machine parts having movementsqdetermined by xed stops of the machine, as inv the; case of the turret and cross slides and the colletof the turret lathe. The controls vofthe cam :speed and of the working pressure ofzthe powerliquid do not call for high accuracy either astoamount or timing. In applying the present invention to the control of such definitely limited machine movements the yieldable mounting of the Cam follower arms makes it possible to design the pilot Cams to produce slightly longer transmitter strokes than are required to complete the power driven machine element; movements to engagement with their respective stops; for when engagement with the stops occurs the small additional movements ofthe cam followers are accommodated by the yielding of springs 40. It is to permit such small movement of pivot bolts 39 without opening switch50 that small clearances are provided between b'olts"39 and dogs 55 (Fig. 3).

The control valve 8| can bemade practically nonreactive to liquid flow through it. Rod 83 enters the power system on the .exhaust side where the pressure vis nominally zero. "'In" practice this pressure varies `widely `and may rise to quitea high value. Rod-83 should 'therefore be vmade as small in diameter as is mechanically practi-cal to minimize the elect of exhaust pressure variation. An adequate vent passagev is required to positively protect' the -pilot system from gaining oil from the power system.

In the design Vvo1 the .followrdevice'rfor the motor control valveit should .be observed that the movement of the motor. vpiston; Tl ."is de- IterminedY by; the -cubic.displacement-,fof ltransmitter piston l iin relation `tothe-.cubic'idisplacement .of the follow l,rod 86 of 'the-hydraulic receiver. .Thus if it is desired to provide .a motor cylinder 'l 5 with .a longer; stroke, rod i 86 .must

Lbe. lengthened but correspondingly reduced-iin diameter. In a wordY the hydraulic motorwith its hydraulically `actuated follow valve; constitutes a hydraulic powerglamplier ofwknown lcharacter.

In connection Withthe'deViCe for ,control-ling the pressure of the power fluid, 'itzmight f seem that thedesired control is .a .mere-.matter `fof transmitting suitable'pressuresto.the'zrelief ball `96 (Eig. 3) :and .that Yresilience `in the :associated pilot system which -appliesthe pressurefwould not be detrimental. Howeverpitzhasvbeen :found necessary to make the pilot systemas little reactive to exhaust pressure as possible. i Accordmal Variation of operating conditions renders such .provision of automatic control insuicient. Thus in the case of control of machine 'tools-'ii a cuttert'developed marked ldullness or if a slide were .blockaded accidentally. the actuating-motor cylinder would be unableto follow thefimpulse ofthe pilot system and, vaswappears from Fig. 3, the follow rod svfwould ynotiwithdraw from the chamber Sila as fast-as'liquidwas-devlivered '.from transmitter'. Under these Vconditionsit .is apparent that thevliquidin the pilot system would beblockaded andlpiston I4 ofthe transmitter would not responditofitsf actuating cam. In such a .case` spring't of 'the VYfollow valve, .depending on the vposition of the latter,

might yield. somewhat and vafo'rd` some't relief,

but forfgeneral reliance it is'clearthatfthe yield- .fable mounting of 'thecam' follower larmflfil4 and vthe safety switch provisionfof the directorapparatus are needed.

In the .illustrative :embodiment of *the invention disclosed herein fthe.inventionis applied lto 'the direction of a'power driven'machi'nehaving `movementscf its elements accurately ydetermined in amount by fixed 1stops formingparts` of ;the machine, .but fit is vtof-bev understoodlthat fundamental principles of the invention arezapplicable also to .'theidirectionof other types-of machines in'` which it issnotfeasible on notdesirable, .to makefsuchnuse of xed stops. ex-

.ample of Asuchv otherv machines '--is'ffound in duplicator machines rin whichthework-engaging-'tool travels in an irregular path determined byla model of the thing to' be reproduced.

To those skilled in the relevantlvarts itfwill be apparentthat' the. present' invention vis applicable to the control of a'lwide variety ofv machines'and that :the manner of application `andthe-*structural embodiment-of the inventionmboth-as-aI whole andin its parts may Vtake -a wide vrangefof Aequivalent forms within ythe bounds of the following claims.

'- Whatis claimed is: i 1. y'l'.nlfiydraulic apparatus; the combination-of a fluid pressure operated motor; a source of working uid for said motor; valve means for controlling admission of the working iiuid to the motor; and automatic means for controlling the operation of the motor comprising a plurality of hydraulic transmitters each having a cylinder and a piston therein, a motor driven cam carrier, cams mounted thereon, cam follower devices associated with said cams and respectively connected to the transmitter pistons, a hydraulic receiver associated with the control valve of the aforesaid motor and connected to receive hydraulic impulses from one of the transmitters whereby the operation of the motor valve is controlled by the movement of the cam carrier, means for varying the pressure of the working fluid supplied to the hydraulic motor, and another hydraulic receiver associated with the last named means and operatively connected to another of the hydraulic transmitters whereby the movement of the cam carrier also controls the pressure of the fluid supplied to the hydraulic motor.

2. Hydraulic apparatus as claimed in claim l, in which the means for controlling the operation of the motor also comprises means for varying the speed of the motor-driven cam carrier, and a hydraulic receiver associated with the speed varying means and operatively connected to still another of the cam-actuated hydraulic transmitters, whereby the means for controlling the operation of the motor serves to vary both the speed of the hydraulic motor and the pressure of its Working fluid.

3. In hydraulic apparatus, the combination of a hydraulic motor; a source of working iiuid for said motor; a valve for controlling admission and exhaust of the working fluid of the motor; means for automatically actuating the said valve comprising a hydraulic receiver operatively connected to the valve and having a follow means actuated by the movable element of the motor to cause movement of the motor proportional to the movement of the receiver, a plurality of hydraulic transmitters, conduit means for connecting one of the transmitters to the receiver to deliver pressure impulses to the latter; a movably mounted cam carrier, a plurality of cams mounted on said carrier, and operative connections between each of the said transmitters and one of the cams; means for varying the pressure of the working fluid supplied to the hydraulic motor; and means for controlling the pressure-varying means comprising a hydraulic receiver operatively connected to one of the hydraulic transmitters.

EDWARD M. MAY.

No references cited. 

